The Amanda's Easel Creative Arts Therapy Program helps children and their non-offending parent heal from the effects of domestic violence by encouraging them to express and understand their feelings and fears in a safe and nurturing environment, through various creative arts intervention and case management services. Children often don't know how to describe the overwhelming feelings associated with witnessing domestic abuse. Amanda’s Easel gives them the tools so that they can begin healing.

The primary goals of the program are to help children:

• Strengthen self-esteem
• Develop new coping skills
• Gain a sense of control over concerns, doubts and fears Increase communication between parent and child
• Begin to understand the cycle of violence and how it affects their self-esteem
• Help break the cycle of family violence

What is Creative Arts Therapy?
Creative Arts Therapy is practiced by therapists that are human service professionals who use arts modalities and creative processes for the purpose of ameliorating disability and illness and optimizing health and wellness. Treatment outcomes include, for example, improving communication and expression, and increasing physical, emotional, cognitive, and/or social functioning. There are more than 15,000 Creative Arts Therapists practicing in the United States and around the world.

Amanda's Easel Creative Arts Therapy
Amanda's Easel Creative Arts Therapy is a comprehensive art therapy program for children ages 4-14, and their non-offending parent, who have been affected by domestic violence. In small, age-appropriate groups, the children and parents express themselves through the use of art therapy, play therapy, and music therapy. Individual and Group therapies are facilitated by registered and licensed art therapists and are held at studios in the Middletown area.  Additionally, trauma-focused therapy creative arts therapy conducted in Freehold. 

Non-offending parents attend parenting art therapy sessions, counseling, and case management sessions. This combination of creative arts therapy for the children and art therapy parenting sessions is designed to create a support system to help both children and parents cope with the life changes precipitated by the violence and abuse.

Eligibility	Non offending parent and children age 4-14 affected by physical, emotional or verbal abuse. Must be separated from the abuse at least 3 months.
Age Groups	Children
Community Services	Family & Support Services Case Management
Health Services	Behavioral / Mental Health Family Conflict & Distress Trauma / PTSD Crisis / Safety Domestic Violence Intellectual and Developmental Needs Advocacy
Treatment Services	Outpatient Services Alternative Therapies Counseling / Therapy, Individual Creative Arts Therapy Play Therapy Trauma Informed Therapy Treatment Settings In Community Office / Practice
Payment Options	Free
Areas Served	Monmouth County

Last Updated: 12/13/23